Gwent choirs attempt singing and signing record

MORE than a hundred choristers around Gwent have attempted to break the world record for the most people signing and singing in multiple locations on the same day.

Members from Abergavenny, Chepstow, Monmouth and Newport Rock Choir's took part in the UK wide event for SignHealth’s sign2sing project which saw the choristers singing and signing to Cindy Lauper's True Colours. The four choirs each took part over a period of four days with 45 members from Monmouth Rock Choir, 16 from Abergavenny, 16 from Chepstow and 40 members from Newport Rock Choir.

The organisers hope to know if they have broken the record in the next few days when numbers are tallied up.

Suzie Anderson, 28, choir leader for the four rock choirs, said: "They have gone really well. It's so nice to do something different like this.

"Signing wasn't that difficult to learn. We all learnt the signs from a video which one of our rock choir members in Surrey created as she signs herself."

The Abergavenny and Newport choir's sang at the Lysaght Institute on Orb Drive on Thursday evening. (Feb6) The choirs have previously performed at the O2 and sing pop, gospel and motown music.

She said: "It's a great event to raise awareness for a charity and nice for the community to get involved in. We've had feedback from other rock leaders to say that asthma sufferers have used their pumps less from singing in the choir."

The event is to raise awareness for Sign Health, a charity set up to help with the needs of deaf people in the community. Last year's record was 116,980 people which the charity hope to beat.

Linda Petrons, events and corporate fundraiser at SignHealth, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to everyone at Rock Choir for taking part in this inspiring event and for helping to raise such a fantastic amount during our sign2sing week. We have estimated that more than 200,000 people were due to take part in the event and the exact number of participants will be confirmed by us at a later date."

For more information visit www.sign2sing.org.uk or contact SignHealth on 01494 687600.